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NOTE: I have read Nancy Russell’s editorial and talked through Facebook with Liza Bradford about their votes in support of the budget that passed. After considering what they had to say, I have decided to revise this article that was originally posted on 6/26/14. My issues were never with the fact that donations were made to Republican candidates across the

NOTE: I have read Nancy Russell’s editorial and talked through Facebook with Liza Bradford about their votes in support of the budget that passed. After considering what they had to say, I have decided to revise this article that was originally posted on 6/26/14. My issues were never with the fact that donations were made to Republican candidates across the state. However, the decision to send $300K to outside national GOP groups was misguided and unprecedented, especially when there is no guarantee that money will ever makes it way back to Virginia. However, it is unfair to assume that the all the committee members who voted in support of the budget did so with the same reasoning and facts as Ray Allen and a handful of others. In fact, it is not even clear to me that Ray Allen and Don Williams were forthcoming with other committee members about the fact that no Virginia earmarking exists on this money that has been sent to D.C. The article has been revised to reflect these changes.

Ray Allen, Mike Thomas, and Donald Williams continued their assault on the grassroots last night with a 13-6 vote on the committee to bleed the 7th District GOP bank account. Here is how it happened…

Last night at the Goochland Library the 7th District GOP Committee held their first meeting under the new chairmanship of Fred Gruber. The Treasurer’s Report showed that the 7th CD Committee had approximately $470,000 cash on hand, with almost the entire amount coming from Cantor’s Victory Fund. (As an aside, can the other side please stop bemoaning the loss of Linwood Cobb’s fundraising prowess? The man did nothing to raise money. He simply cashed the Cantor checks.) Ray Allen and Mike Thomas (who are not elected members of the 7th District Committee) were conveniently in attendance, carrying a voting member’s proxy, so that they could vote on the motions. [Ray Allen held a proxy for a voting member Kristi Way – (Cantor’s Chief of Staff); Mike Thomas held a voting proxy for Dave Fuller.]

An initial motion was made by conservatives on the Committee to spend approximately $288K of the money to help Gillespie/Brat win in November, while saving the balance for future elections. Specifically, conservatives wanted to spend $288K to build a sophisticated grassroots operation for each of the ten counties in the 7th District to help with general election voter turnout in November. It would have far exceeded any sort of GOP victory efforts in the past, with each county having the necessary resources, talent, and technical support to increase our voter margins in November. This proposal was flatly denied.

Chesterfield GOP Chairman, Donald Williams, made a substitute motion to give $150,000 to to the Republican National Committee (RNC), $150,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), $25,000 to Ben Chafin who is running to replace the state senate seat of Phil Puckett down in southwest Virginia, $12,866 to the Republican Party of Virginia so that GOP units in the 7th district could obtain i360 data licenses, and $5,000 to all Virginia congressional campaign – leaving only approximately $86,000 in the 7th district bank account.

Interestingly, this proposal basically gave NOTHING to 7th District election efforts in November, only allocating a total of $12,866 to purchase i360 data licenses. This budget committed no local money (outside of the i360 licenses) to grow the GOP and turn out the vote in their own district. Instead, it was given to Washington D.C. with no guarantees that it would be spent in Virginia or in the 7th district.

This proposed budget even slighted the state party, not giving the Republican Party of Virginia a dime! Why do I say this? Because RPV is simply being used a pass thru to pay for i360 licenses for the 10 GOP units in the 7th District. RPV doesn’t get to keep a dime of the $12,866 they are being sent. Make no mistake, this is retribution for Pat Mullins standing up against the slating tactics of Eric Cantor, Ray Allen and Mike Thomas. Their intentions were exposed when Fred Gruber tried to offer a compromise amendment to the Cantor/Allen/Thomas/Williams budget that the $300K going to the RNC and NRCC be split three ways so that RPV would at least get $100K. This proposal was also flatly denied. No money to the RPV and only $12,866 to 7th District operations.

Only 6 members voted against this proposal. Those were:

Fred Gruber – Chairman

Ben Slone – Goochland Unit Chairman

Nick Freitas – Culpeper Unit Chairman

Mark Daniel – New Kent Unit Chairman

Jordan Marshall – Orange Unit Chairman

Robert Stuber – Spotsylvania Unit Chairman

Here are the members who voted for the budget proposed by Don Williams:

I’m sure there were a number of individuals on this committee who voted for the substitute budget, because it appeared on face value as sensible and practical. It donated money to Republican candidates like they have historically done (a good thing) and obtained i360 licenses. Clearly some individuals were even told the $300K to D.C. would come back to Virginia to help with victory operations. Indeed, many local unit chairman have given this same reasoning to their inquiring grassroots member since the meeting took place. There are just a few problems with the arguments that were provided to committee members:

Money is fungible. If RNC and NRCC were already planning on spending money in VA, they will now redirect those funds elsewhere with this new money coming their way.

RNC has stated they will set up some victory offices in Virginia, but have not committed to spending the entire amount in the 7th or Virginia.

NRCC has refused to state what they will do with the money.

Explain to me why we are incapable at the local OR state level of running our own grassroots victory operations? Gruber had proposed $288K on grassroots/victory operations, while the substitute motion was to give $300K to the RNC/NRCC, who may or may not invest that amount on victory operations (with staff, offices, robocalls, etc.) in Virginia. This top-down approach that tries to import a grassroots operations from D.C. is why we keep losing Virginia elections in our statewide races. We would rather pay for a dozen strangers who live all across the country and know nothing about our district and communities to come to Virginia to door knock for us rather than hire local individuals who live in the community, know the area, and already have proven they know how to door knock and make phone calls to their neighbors. And to top it all off, these same individuals want to critique Gruber’s budget for the same thing they claim they want the national groups to do for them.

As stated many times before, RPV did not get $1 for their own use to help with Virginia elections. Remember, Chairman Gruber even suggested that the $300K be divided three ways, $100K to RNC, $100K to NRCC and $100K to RPV. The proposal was quickly killed.

Former 7th District Chairman, Linwood Cobb, was all too transparent in his disdain for Ken Cuccinelli and the RPV. On 6/28 on Facebook he stated, “please tell me why a District Committee should have to financially support the State Party? It would be like you as Chair of Spotsy being expected to financially keep the 7th District Committee afloat. If the Cuccinelli/Moulton lead State Party can’t raise enough money to keep from going under, that is no fault of any District Committee…” So it seems that Linwood Cobb has no problem keeping RNC or NRCC afloat, just not his own state party.

So while some acted in good faith on the budget based on the information presented, it was clear that this budget proposal accomplished the goals of Ray Allen and a few others – punish the RPV and grassroots after their slating debacle and Cantor defeat.

Mike Thomas also was involved in a similar stunt in the 5th District. But how could he carry a proxy to vote in the 7th District when he lives in the 5th? Doesn’t he have to live in the district to carry a proxy?

James Young

I believe that you’re right, Roger (see above). However, given the vote, not sure it would have made a difference.

kelley

at what meeting are you referencing?

BastilleDay, 2112

Mike Thomas may be a closet Democrat and Democrats have superpowers when it comes to voting – they can even vote from beyond the grave…

Max Shapiro

$288,000 seems like an awful lot of money to spend in a safe GOP seat. I agree draining the account is part of a retribution, but I can imagine very few scenarios where it would make sense to invest over a quarter million dollars just to bump turnout a few points, if at all. By the time November comes around, we will probably be about 2 months past the point of diminishing (close to zero) returns on money spent on anything. If you would be so kind as to provide an itemized budget of where that money would go, then I’d certainly be open to changing my opinion.

Steven Thomas

Ed Gillespie would disagree with you.

Max Shapiro

I doubt it. He’s going to have more than enough money to make his case along with all the outside groups, like the ones the 7th district committee donated to that will probably send the money right back into Virginia. If that $288k was proposed to go to VA-2 or VA-11, then I could see him disagreeing. Short of Brat getting caught with a live boy or a dead girl, the 7th district won’t need the money.

Jim Portugul

You never know. The establishment Plantation Owners Party may vote for the Dem just to teach the grassroots people in the 7th a lesson.

The Establishment Plantation Owners Party would lose little in the US House if a never been vetted, possibly unable to control, Dave Brat lost in November. The plantation owners party already has an overwhelming majority in the House.

Did I understand what the “real leader” of the Plantation Owners Party said today on hate radio, did he say he “understood ” Tea Party people who supported McDaniel, now voting for the Dem instead of Cochran? Was this really code telling them how to vote in retaliation?

Wonder what we mite hear if we played the ” real leader” of the Plantation Owners Party radio broadcast backwards?

Then there is that “uneasy” feeling about the “well crafted response” comment!

Val

Does this money go to the same committees that helped
Thad Cochran use racial lies to get McDaniels defeated?

Jim Portugul

The “loot” will end up in the pockets of those who have Washington under siege. They will purchase more corruption with the. “loot”.

palintologist

This would be par for the course. They should start a 3rd party, the Scorched Earthers.

Jeanine Martin

Honestly, I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Jim Portugul

What part of my comment do you not understand?

Danielle

All of it.

Jim Portugul

Maybe you should purchase the book “Comment Understanding For Dummies”?

Danielle

Or perhaps you should try crafting a comment that makes sense and doesn’t contain thinly veiled racist accusations such as “Plantation Owners Party”?

Jim Portugul

What part of the comment does not make sense?

Danielle

Any sense in the comment was obscured by the Plantation Owners Party. You use this term in just about every post you have.

If you are inferring that the Republican Party itself is the Plantation Owners Party, then I would suggest taking a college level course in American History that focuses on Pre-Civil War, the Civil War and Reconstruction. Or perhaps read “Ballots and Democratic Class Struggle” by Anderson and Davidson.

(I’ll give you a hint – the political affiliation of plantation owners did NOT belong to the Republican Party.)

If one were to assume that you are writing about the Democrats when discussing Plantation Owners, then to say that they have an overwhelming majority in the house is illogical. If you are discussing the Republican Majority then your use of the term Plantation Owners Party makes no sense.

Hate radio – exactly where does one find hate radio? Is it truly hate radio or is it your loathing of conservative talk show hosts? You identified “The Real Leadeer of the Plantation Owners Party” exactly who would that be? If you are using the historical aspect of Plantation Owners, is it Alan Combs? Bill Maher? By not identifying exactly what you are deeming as Plantation Owner, it can be interpreted either party – thus more confusing. Playing it backwards? Now it is the Beatles that own the plantations?

If you would lose the vitriol, perhaps you would be more understandable but for right now, your comments come across as just another angry, liberal troll screeding at the top of his lungs which make it very hard to understand and/or follow.

Jim Portugul

Well, perhaps you would explain the $11 Billion increase in this years budget being “embraced” by the “grassroots”?

I am well aware what party plantation owners and Lincoln belonged to, but that was then, and this is now! The Party’s have flipped, just as they are again doing now. I will respond to your comment.

Danielle

I can’t answer that question as of yet, because I have not read the final budget. I doubt you have either.

McDonnell’s budget through 2016 called for $10 billion increase however, not being a “Blame Bush” kind of person, I don’t factually know where it stands now since Governor McIleftmynewbornandwifecryinginthecar took office.

It is my understanding that this years budget is NINETY PERCENT less an increase than you allude. But again, I haven’t read the final budget and I don’t know of all the negotiations that took place.

But we digress off the topic, there is a budget thread so quit hijacking peoples threads to scream your screed.

PS – I found it hilarious you used Lincoln, Plantation Owners and the phrase “belonging to” in the same sentence.

Jim Portugul

Wait just one minute!

1) Didn’t you say there was a budget thread?
2) Didn’t you say you didn’t have the numbers?
3) How’s that work that you read a budget thread and do not know the numbers?

How could there really have been a budget thread that didn’t include the numbers? Are you talking about the 6/23 thread that did not talk at all about the numbers?

Do you not find it unusual that the numbers were conveniently left out of a thread about a “conservative” supported budget in a Republican blog?

How can you call yourself a Conservative, yet, after a budget has been passed, you do not know what was in it?

Are you really Nancy Pelosi, now that it is passed, you have to read it to see what is in the budget?

Why is it that none of the Republican blogs are talking about the spending and numbers? Here, see for yourself. The final number are close. Spending cuts, baloney. Rainy day fund raided. Still in hock to the VRS!

I suppose you would rather have Governor Bob. Isn’t he basically accused of along with his wifey, having Tubberware and Amyway like parties in the Governors mansion, but hocking Star Scientific instead? Isn’t that just a form of snake oil?

The budget was just finalized and unlike you, I don’t spend 24/7 on the net.

This isn’t about me – it’s about you and your nasty, liberal rantings on a conservative site on any topic – just as long as you can screed.

Jeanine Martin

Great post, too bad it won’t make a bit of difference with him. He’s a one note wonder.

Jeanine Martin

This AGAIN?? For the love of all things holy, give it a rest. Stop hijacking every thread with your budget junk. It’s tedious, repetitive and very boring. You’re not winning any converts to your side, assuming that’s your goal. It’s very difficult to tell what your goal might be.

Jeanine Martin

Don’t encourage him. He still won’t make any sense.

James Young

I question whether one of them (not that it makes a difference, given the vote) could legitimately vote the CR proxy. Doesn’t one have to qualify for election to the post in order to carry a proxy under the State Party Plan?

We’re told there were 4 proxies present, only two for voting members (including the CR). See the clarifying update to the post. Thanks for pointing out the apparent discrepancy, James.

Computer_Expert

Someone needs to take a long look at their charter. they have an election coming up and they better be supporting Brat or the7th District GOP canexpect an injunction, prohibiting the transfer of funds.

kelley

helping Ben Chafin is impt.

BrianKirwin

So you oppose giving money to Republican efforts to defeat Democrats. Do you only get excited about defeating Republicans?

Really, Brian? That’s just ridiculous. Where does Jamie say she opposes giving money to defeat Democrats? Nowhere. In fact, any reasonable reading of her post would reveal that she is upset that the bulk of the money was not kept local (to defeat Virginia Democrats).

BTW, no one is saying the 7th CD Committee isn’t within their rights to do what they did. And, frankly, I understand how there might be emotional satisfaction by sticking it to the other side. But the message it sends is, “screw unity, screw building the party in the 7th district, and screw you” to anyone who wasn’t a Cantor/Cobb supporter. It’s the same Ray Allen scorched earth approach that drove Cantor into the ground over the last 5 years, and does not serve Cantor’s interests well should he decide he wants to run for office again in Virginia.

Jim Portugul

Speaking of Unity, both parties need to compromise so this country can once again actually be the United States.

Take the corporate /special interest money out of politics. Until that happens we will be more and more divided.

Get the government out of the business of business, and business will stay out of the business of government. The money is only there because government bestows favors, picks winners, and fosters rent seeking…attacking the money is merely misdiagnosing the symptom as the disease.

AmyH

Well said!

Jim Portugul

Which came first, the money or the favors?

Just how do we get the government out of the business of business? Because there is not going to be any real change until we do. None.

There is not going to be any Constitutional amendment. The media interests would prefer even more money in politics. Hate radio and tv has “robotized” a segment of society, like millions of little Manchurian candidates.

In my opinion the anti-ObamaCare crowd only want to go back to the amount of government pre-ObamaCare in healthcare.

Where do we go from here?

Jeanine Martin

Jim, you are one broken record. We got it already.

Bryant Hill

Why YES, you are talking the truth of the matter. Weed out the Democrats among the GOP and let’s jump start this country again….

Joseph Scott Jr

You Republicans are still stuck on that Trickle – Down BS, YOU are all out in Fantasy-Land, with Your Blond headed Prince on A White Horse believing Wives, sprouting the From The Bubble BS of Rush Limbaugh Right-Wing Fantacy’s. Republicans been in Control of the House since 2010, How Come you haven’t already jump – Started the Country? I’ll tell you Why, because the Republican Party Is Full of Shit!

Sailblazer

A mind is a terrible thing to lose.

Former NC resident

Brush up on your spelling and grammar rules (it’s “fantasies”) before you call people names.

Joseph Scott Jr

Screw you, you must have understood, you commented. I still say, Republicans are full of Feces! IS THAT BETTER FOR YOU?

Eric McGrane

The mark of a well-supported, reasoned argument is the use of profanity.

Jeanine Martin

Wow. Put down the bottle, you aren’t making a bit of sense.

Nick Freitas

Thank you Steve! The idea that we will ever be able to meaningfully remove money from politics when politicians have so much control over our economy is a pipe dream. Business should be worried about pleasing consumers in an open and competitive market not determining which campaign contributions they need to make in order to protect their business.

Lawrence Wood

Can’t honestly say that I see your proposition – “get government out of the business of business, … business will stay out of the business of government” as a realistic one or an accurate description of the fairly transparent motivations of the large modern national or multi-national corporation. At least since the Eisenhower administration the growth of corporate America seeking and thriving on government largess has been a growing trend. More often then not they have been the supplicants. Often entire profitability models are built around this tap to governmental funding sources ( i.e. taxpayer handouts). GE is a classic example that comes immediately to mind outside the classic defense sector. The stake in this statist model is BOTH large and proactively maintained by corporate America They will not be weaned from this without a major fight. One has only to look at the upcoming fight over the ex-im bank reauthorization for a current example.

Bryant Hill

You mean the RNC & DNC need to unite? Republicans & Democrats are ONE party now.
Conservatives will pull weeds (RINO’s) like Canter out of the Republican Party and maybe the country will have a chance at recovering from the Obama era destruction of our Constitution & Country.
Conservatives don’t compromise with the Democratic Party when what they stand for is big Gov’t and old status quo of politics. WE’RE DONE with all that non-sense & horse-sh*t.

Jim Portugul

Perhaps you would explain how your brand of “conservative” , abundantly, willingly, gleefully, supported the new state budget with its 11B dollar increase over the previous budget?

A budget prepared by a now indicted Former Governor, and solidified by the Chief Sponsor of the largest tax increase in Virginia history, Speaker HB2313 Howell, and his side kick, Sen. “Safari” Norment!

An increase of 11B when they were $1.55 Billion short on the current operating budget.

Aren’t you really a “CINO”? Come on, admit it? Did Limbaugh lie to you again and tell you that you are a “Conservative”?

BrianKirwin

The entire article is a complaint about the contributions and all the contributions went to help Republican candidates. Now if she wanted to write that she thought Dave Brat was such a weak candidate that he needed all that money himself, she would’ve written that.

Apparently, only you think that.

Turbocohen

Spoken like a paid republican consultant who gets republicans like Will Sessoms elected.. You digress.

BastilleDay, 2112

Great poster.. Sessoms is looking for GOP support when he runs for mayor again. I will save this for that campaign.

BrianKirwin

Actually, that is from 2008. Turbocohen tried to use it against him in 2012 and Sessoms got 69% of the vote while Cohen’s candidate barely broke 11%. Turbo would be a great politico if he didn’t suck so much.

BastilleDay, 2112

Geez Brian… who peed in your Cheerios today? What’s with the attitude against Turbo?… He was behind Dave Brat, that was once you didn’t see coming… I’m sure…

BrianKirwin

Turbo, are you still without a win in the many campaigns you’ve “worked on”? Your 2012 record 0-6. Your 2013 record 0-3.

Turbocohen

You did pretty good Brian, your guys pal Terry won as did Northam.. Remind me why you are a republican?

Jeanine Martin

He’s a republican? Who knew?

russedav

Wrong. You just don’t think.

Bryant Hill

Cantor ‘was’ a RINO….Conservatives are very happy he is out. I hope he decides to go into private, whatever and stay away from Washington politics.
He is a wishy washy & arrogant politician.

Alton Foley

Forgive Brian. He read the author’s name first and lost his objectivity.

BrianKirwin

Hi, Alton. Do you still think you’re important?

I’ve never had objectivity.

Alton Foley

I’ve never thought I was important.

BrianKirwin

we finally agree on something

Eric McGrane

*Most arguments that are constructed to begin with the word “So” are invalid strawman constructions. Stated differently, you are using dishonest argumentation. That’s the Kirwin way.

This is your free education of the day.

BrianKirwin

And it’s worth the price.

Eric McGrane

Your integrity? Mmmkay.

BrianKirwin

I’ve got integrity and great hair.

Bryant Hill

I don’t give money to Republicans because when I do, I give it to Republicans dressed up in Democrat garb.
NO MORE…I give money to the Tea Party so they can hire people to weed out the RINO’S from among their party.
I believe it worked because Canter is GONE and McCarthy is next on the blacklist.

russedav

So you’re so far gone you don’t have a problem with obvious lawless theft!?! Sick. This is a matter of principle, something about which lawless, immoral, fascist Dems & their fellow RINOs like Cantor et al have no clue.

BrianKirwin

Eric McGrane says you’re dishonest.

“Most arguments that are constructed to begin with the word “So” are invalid strawman constructions. Stated differently, you are using dishonest argumentation.” says Eric.

Take him on, Eric!

Eric McGrane

Yes, his argument began with a strawman construction.

Kristin Thomas

But in your world, it’s perfectly acceptable for them to play the role of the petulant child in the midst of a massive tantrum because THEIR guy didn’t win, so they are going to take their toys (IE money) and leave. We got told for YEARS to unite for the good of the party, to bite our tongues and hold our noses to vote for candidates that no longer represented US but it needed to be done because GOD forbid we should divide and let the big bad Democrats win. Never mind the fact that the candidates with the R behind their names were going to Washington and siding with Democrats nearly HALF the time anyway! NOW the table has turned, WE are the ones in control and on the ballot and they are pulling their money, their support and sitting in a corner pouting rather than practicing what they spent years preaching. I call that hypocrisy frankly and I am SICK of it. It’s supposed to be about the people, NOT the politicians. These people need to be slapped down a few times, find some humility and remember they work for US, not the other way around.

BrianKirwin

Hypocrisy? It would be nice to see you applaud the support of Republican candidates. That would be novel.

Jon Wilson

Jamie – what do you expect? You and the Tea Party movement vilified Cantor and his supporters for months. Like it or not, Cantor raised all of the money that the 7th district has in its coffers and his supporters made sure it went where Eric wanted it to go.

Besides, if Cantor is as evil as you say he is, you wouldn’t want to use his dirty money , would you?

Alan

Incredibly immature response – unbelievable!

Jon Wilson

How is that an immature response?

It is just an honest response, like it or not. It boils down to human nature, so don’t shoot the messenger.

Alan

Jon: I wish I had a dollar for every person who told me that when Eric Cantor won the primary I needed to put my disappointment and bad feelings aside and support our nominee. I never argued with them because I have always supported the Republican candidate. Now that the primary is over I expect the same from Cantor supporters. We need to move on and strengthen the party in the district and State wide. I need more justification for the way the funds have been distributed.

Jeanine Martin

Wow. So Cantor controls the money and if wants a democrat to win the 7th district then it will happen! Just wow.

Sailblazer

It’s not his money.

Ron Benghazi Hedlund

Ray Allen directed the vote and pulled the strings. Video proves it.

Alan

For gosh sakes – I thought we were done with Ray Allen.

Jeanine Martin

Don’t we wish it were so!

Sailblazer

You’d think that Ray Allen would be embarrassed to go out in public, much less show up at a 7th District meeting.

Ron Benghazi Hedlund

YOU may be done with Ray Allen, but Ray Allen is not done with taking down RPV. Pat Mullins is next on his list.

Um…it’s not. See what you did there…it’s called a straw man argument based on a logically faulty generalization. Not effective when it is so obvious.

Labiosa

Sending $25,000 to a seat that would be impossible to lose instead of investing funds into their own up for grabs district… Give me a break, these people have got to go.

kelley

Puckett’s seat is up for grabs too. Just as the 7CD seat. & Ben Chafin has virtually no time to fundraise–not a monied district. If Brat can whip Cantor, you gotta feel that he can raise big bucks

Labiosa

The 9th District has funding, and the 38th will be dark red. I am not as positive about Brat’s funding or the state of the 7th district. This money was needed in, now it is squandered.

Tyler Craddock

Yeah, dark red. Just ask Adam Light….

Labiosa

Equating the modern 38th to the 38th of 2011 is like saying Anthony Flaccavento was as hard to beat as Rich Boucher. The 38th will be dark red.

Tyler Craddock

I realize for kids like you, a lot can happen in three years (e.g., slating off long-time Republicans in Craig County, hitting puberty, losing an election), but it really is a short time, and I don’t think the district has changed that much.

Labiosa

Uh oh, you went personal – I guess that means this is over. Have a good one Tyler!

Turbocohen

Hey Tyler you ignorant slut….. grow a pair and fact check before accusing former chair Labiosa of slating.

Tyler Craddock

Wait a minute! You mean they brought in the guy who had ran as a Libertarian against Goodlatte to run a local committee mass meeting?

Shame on all those who voted against the people, particularly those who were elected to State Central to represent the people!
The last time I saw Klarke Kilgore he was 11 years old and could name all 6 of the state Capitols that are closer to Lee County than Richmond. Cute kid.

You know what? We’ll do it without them. We were outspent 25 to 1, and we got rid of Cantor.

Remember – Fords happen before Reagans, but when the turnaround comes, it’ll be phenomenal.

Keep up the good work, Fred Gruber, Ben Slone, Nick Freitas, Mark Daniel, Jordan Marshall and Robert Stuber. You are men of integrity and caring, and it shows in the great accomplishments in your counties so far. The work has barely begun – it’s going to be exciting to see it continue. One by one, we’ll pull the weeds out of the Virginia Republican Party.

Bryant Hill

That’s right Liberty Jane…..WE will do it without them! I like the analogy of picking the weeds out of the Republican Party.

frank papcin

an interesting question I would like to have answered is

frank papcin

AN INTERESTION QUESTION I WOULD LIKE ANSWERED IS –WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM?–people within the district?–or from outside people with their own agenda?–whose money was it?–yes yes it belongs to the district NOW–but?–where do the people want any of the money to go?–what do they want to accomplish?–win the senate race?–or let the democrats do it AGAIN?
some people worry about money?–I’m worried about this country under democratic domination.

mbraynard

Eric Cantor gave it to them.

Greg Letiecq

Who makes money when i360 gets a check?

Heather Stefl

Michael Palmer: He is the president of i360, which bills itself as the “leading data and technology resource for the pro-free-market political and advocacy community.” Palmer’s firm has worked closely with the Kochs’ voter microtargeting operation, Themis.

Eric McGrane

i360 doesnt even have an elections day operations module/functionality. rVotes would have been a much, MUCH better choice. Follow the money.

Jeanine Martin

Are you saying that the party has chosen another poor system for voter data? I’m shocked. Shocked I tell ya, shocked.

Matt Hall

Koch Brothers! I360 is owned by them.

palintologist

Just reading the headline, I thought, well, duh, how else were the Three Stooges plus 10 supposed to get to MS to help Thad Cochran’s campaign!

paynewalker

Thank you Jamie for all you do!

Twinkie Snack Cake

I think I’ll start hanging out here, I’m tired of having my comments deleted at Bearing Drift, that place is getting to be as bad as Blue Virginia about deleting comments they don’t agree with. Thank you for the article Jamie Radtke.

Jeanine Martin

Be careful or soon you will be banned from making any comments at Bearing Drift. I was banned and I’m not the only one.

Thanks Jamie for sharing the details of how it works– I knew Cantor’s coffers would be emptied–I just didn’t know how it worked.

Grayson Jennings

And why is everone surprised is what i want to know……

Chester

Fantastic work shining a light on the GOP efforts to stomp out conservatism in their own party. These people are absolute slime.

chetnapier

The first and last things tyrants do is loot the treasury

uglykidmoe

great reporting, thanks for keeping us informed.

Mariana225

Additional evidence that getting rid of Cantor was the right choice.

Jeanine Martin

Best comment award!

optimuscorn

Looting the treasury, it’s what tyrants do.

Ron Butler

Jamie, more conspiracy theory crazy talk from you? The 7th district
has for years been the largest district committee donor to candidates in
VA. Ken Cuccinelli’s campaigns for AG received $10K and campaign for Gov.
received $10K from them. They’ve donated
more than $400K to VA campaigns in the past few years. Again this year
they’re giving money to EVERY Republican candidate — the maximum legal contribution — including David Brat. And you’re attacking
them for it? They also left $85K in the account for the future, hardly
bankrupting the committee. Your attacks are dishonest and harm the
party. Shame on you.

jamieradtke

Ron, my complaint wasn’t with the fact that they were giving money to Republican candidates. That is a good thing and I didn’t say otherwise. I shared that information so people would have the entire story. I was intentional about not leaving anything out. I also never claimed they bankrupted the account. I said they bled the bank account, which is exactly what they did when they went from $470K to $85K.

However, it is NOT customary for the 7th District to give away $300K to Washington DC groups. In the past the 7th district has preferred to spend gobs of their money on the Eric Cantor Round Up partypalooza. I believe they spent over $50K just on BBQ. You all made some significantly nice money out of it every year as well. You know that very well since you are president of Creative Direct and actually work for Ray Allen. (http://www.creativedirect.net/team/RonButler.html). Please don’t act impartial here. Shame on you!

Matt

You are such a fraud. Gruber wanted 12 full time field staff paid for an entire year. That means through July2015 and has been asking people where his expense acct and car is. But I bet anything you were going to get a nice monthly payment. Otherwise you wouldn’t be complaining about Republicans helping Republicans.

Fraud requires deceit. The only example of deceit here is you trying to get people to believe either Jamie or Gruber had something in this for themselves.

Jeanine Martin

I don’t suppose you have any real evidence of that? It’s absurd.
No one here is complaining about republicans helping republicans. What a silly argument.

TennesseeRedDog

…. Eric Cantor Round Up partypalooza…. you are president of Creative Direct and actually work for Ray Allen.

Bazinga.

Eric McGrane

LOL….these people are so dishonest. Ray Allen & crew needs to be run out of VA politics entirely.

Turbocohen

Ron, honesty is the best policy but you lie. Show me where Jamie implies “They also left $85K in the account for the future, hardly bankrupting the committee.”

greg

Dont expect these career politicians will do anything less than help themselves to another term. The only solution is to FIRE THEM ALL, WHEN YOU VOTE IN THE FALL. Regardless of your party affiliations, do not re-elect ANY incumbent from this point forward. We must return to short-term citizen legislatures, like the forefathers espoused. No more lifelong politicians.

Rocinante

Yeah, OK, t’row da bums out! But in the real world we must deal with practicalities rather than By Jingo’s. I totally agree with your passion, but that kind of sustained effort a) won’t work & b) would have unpleasant consequences. Let’s work for constructive change and move the football down the field as much as we can. Repeal the 17th amendment is your prerequisite.

In 2009 the RNC led the last successful statewide grassroots Victory operation in VA. Working closely with RPV, RGA and the local committees they funded field staff, local offices and the turnout efforts. Since this was a model that worked they are doing it again this year to elect Ed Gillespie and our candidates for congress. The members of the 7th District GOP voted to generously fund this effort. This not “bleeding” the committee, it’s using the funds to build a winning statewide grassroots campaign. Instead of applauding this, you attack them and imply that they hate the grassroots. You point them out by name and question their motives in an attempt to create hostility toward them. These folks have for years worked tirelessly for our candidates. You casting aspersions on them is harmful to the conservative principles I know we both believe in.

Jeanine Martin

Really? The RNC is coming to Virginia and will “fund field office, local offices, and turnout efforts”? Cool. But they must have our money to do that? Why are they putting millions into Virginia when there are so many other states considered more winable to tip the balance in the Senate? How do you know the RNC has these grand plans?

He doesn’t know that, Jeanine. It’s a made up excuse. To the extent RNC was going to fund Victory, they’ve already budgeted for it. This move was, pure and simple, a play to deny the funds to Virginia Republicans that Ron’s boss doesn’t control. The better long-term play would have been to be cooperative, engage and charm the new blood, and lead toward unity and rapprochement. Instead, like I said above, we get more of the same destructive, counterproductive scorched earth tactics that got us here in the first place.

Jim Portugul

Jamie, still waiting and waiting, on your analysis of the $11 Billion dollar increase in just signed HB5002 Budget? We know about the delivery, Father’s Day present, etc., but we don’t know about the $11 Billion dollar increase by the Tea Party types?

Jeanine Martin

Must you hijack every single thread with this? It’s boring and repetitive. Give it a rest, obviously people aren’t interested in your broken record. Please try to stay on topic.

Eric McGrane

I havent read the TBE terms of use, but on sites I manage I will sometimes delete comments when people continually spam off-topic comments across multiple posts/threads.

JenniferP

Notice that all of the folks who voted to give that money to the national group are all from the Richmond metropolitan area and/or represent the “general” state. The 6 guys at the top all represent countes that are a bit more rural and have become overpriced bedroom communities for DC or Richmond. I used to live in Spotsylvania. I got priced out of the area.

Liz

Here’s fabulous perspective on ALL of what we’re seeing with the Establishment:

“The establishment has only one resource at its disposal: money. They win elections by pouring gobs of cash into television ads and smear campaigns against their opponents. But money is a finite resource. And, as we saw in Dave Brat’s unprecedented upset of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), money isn’t everything.

The liberty movement has become the most successful political force since the civil rights movement in the 1960’s; not through superior spending, but because of the principled passion of individuals who are demanding their country back. Money runs out eventually, but principles never die.”

It looks like the RINOs are determined to scuttle the USS Brat at all costs.

Rocinante

The best revenge is success. Do not yield any ground, replace these votes, take back the party completely.

Alan

I remain uncomfortable with the votes that sent 300k outside the State of Virginia. Poor judgement at best – ridiculous and petty at worst. It should never happen without a greater discussion. Clear lack of leadership and planning in my opinion. The more I learn about the workings of the Republican Party in Virginia the less confidence I have. For gosh sakes – sometimes it looks like high school. How do individuals get on this committee and more importantly how can they be removed?

Rollin Reisinger

Direct contributions to candidates were already maxed. The transfers still fall well, well short of the 7th’s required proportional contribution to max out on coordinated party expenditures, which will cap at $1,123,600 for our Congressional candidates.

Much of this money came from donors who have or will max out to Congrssional candidates. This is one reason we raise money and coordinate expenditures through party committees. The party conduit allows for motivated donors to be useful in excess of the direct contribution limit.

All that mail isn’t free.

Rick Shaftan

This is the thanks Pat gets for endorsing the Ray Allen candidate in VA-10.

Matt Hall

Jamie. I read Lynn Mitchells budget breakdown. It was giving 3500 dollars for a Goochland county Field staffer. With a 3500 dollar budget. I didn’t make that much as an AFP staffer with 50 plus counties. And they wanted to give someone that much for a small county like Goochland?
Sounds like old Fred was going to get his buddies a job. Cronyism works both ways….

I’m pleased that Goochland chairman Ben Slone voted against the prevailing proposal. Also I think Ray Allen has been a detriment to the party with his divisive tactics. So I go along with most of Ms. Radtke’s comments. however, I am offended by the cheap shot at Linwood Cobb. I’ve known Linwood for 60 years, and he is being tarred unfairly. He spent untold hours as a volunteer organizing 7th District events and, yes, raising money himself – all for the good of Republican candidates. He may differ from Ms. Radtke on some issues but he is a loyal Republican of the first order and a fine person.